Eli's first Christmas morning! :)

 Christmas morning was delightful with Eli squealing with joy!  He really couldn't understand what the day was going to bring, even though we tried to prepare him.  He loved having a donut for pre-breakfast, opening gifts, breakfast, play time, play time, play time!  He was wow-ed by the fact that there were so many presents for him.  He didn't celebrate his birthday here with us this year and hasn't been to a birthday party yet, so all the presents were quite a shock! He was thrilled.  :)

cousins! :) :)

E and E are one month apart in age!  :) :) 

monkeying around....  ;)

pretty much us! :)

making corn muffins...

stirring in the molasses

really enjoying the corn that we didn't put into the batter

just look at those cheeks!!  :)

some December fun

Just enjoying his "turtle fort" with his monkey pal. 

And doing a little Christmas gift painting.

"cut hair" says Eli to Daddy on the phone today.

BEFORE 

BEFORE 2

super shaggy...

So I had been thinking that it was about time to take Eli to get his hair cut.  He's been here for over 2 months now and it's getting a little shaggy.  I was wondering how long I could put it off though, kind of dreading the experience - another new thing for this little man who has had so many new things lately...

Well a few days ago he says to me, "Mommy, Eli hair too big!"  Yep, it's time.  The poor child is telling me, all on his own, that he needs a hair cut, and wondering if I forgot about it.  "Yes, you're right." I tell him and start looking into where to take him.

So this morning, Eli got his first hair cut in the US. He was excited. I was nervous. (how much of our lives are going to be this way?!)   He did really well.  Didn't need to sit on my lap or anything.  Giggled when the buzzer trimmer thing  (what's that called?) was near his ears. The gals at the salon fell in love w him.

I'm realizing that everywhere this little man goes, he melts people.  He just brings out smiles all over the place.  It's pretty fun!  My little spreader of joy...  :) :)

all done!  and smiling.... :) 

pretzel fun at snack time...

sportin' his new do!  :)

mid-December update

We've been busy.  Life is good.

hiking at Mt Hope Cemetery

Our days and weeks are filled with playground time, trips to the library, playing in the attic, reading books, tickling, visits from friends, play dates, lots of cooking and baking, fort time (in his huge cardboard box), shopping, crafting, painting Christmas gifts, hiking, opening mail - he *loves* all the Christmas cards!, a visit to one of my schools, going to swimming lessons, watching Shaun the Sheep and the Gruffalo (the only two things he thinks come out of our tv!), eating popcorn, playing ball, taking walks, riding his bike and scooter, enjoying the climbing wall that Daddy built in the basement.  Oh the fun and giggles!

some mellow piano time in the attic

He is washing his hands independently now and doing a great job with brushing his teeth too.  :) He rips off his own little eye sticker each day like a champ after his two hours of wearing it.  He is getting better about knowing his routine and what his days are like.  The calendar with photo magnets we use to talk about each day's plans helps a lot.  He really likes to know what's happening next, so we try to keep him informed of the next event or two at all times, as possible.  He likes to clean up after each meal and helps to load and unload the dishwasher. He's pretty good about cleaning up and really likes things in their places.  He is enjoying the jobs we are giving him around the house. He's a great little helper, and sometimes will cry a bit if I do a job he had his heart set on doing...

He seems a little confused about "days".  It seems like he thinks there's a new day each time he wakes up - whether it's morning or after a nap.  Is this a developmental 3 year old thing, I wonder?  He  must think Daddy is gone to work every other day, if that is the case...  He has "figured out" that Mommy reads books on sunny days (at all his nap times, when there's day light) and Daddy reads books when it's dark (at night before bed).  Too funny.  He's making sense of things in his own way, I guess.

Also, we were on Goodman about to turn onto 490W a few days ago.  He pointed to 490E and said,"That way Eli han (and) Daddy swimming, library. This way (pointing to 490W) Mommy my school."  Has he seriously figured out which way to turn to get to things he has only been to a few times?  He recognizes places that he has only been to once - it amazes me. I think soon he'll be helping me when I get lost... ;)

And just yesterday we were in the kitchen making corn muffins when Sleigh Ride came on the radio (Pandora) and he shouted "Snowman!"after just a few notes, bc we heard that same song at the RPO concert last week when we went to see the Snowman. How does he remember that?!

playing in a HUGE leaf pile w Daddy!

oh the fun they have together...

citizenship

Good news!  Guess who is now a US citizen?  His paperwork arrived in the mail on Thursday and the date he became a citizen was October 9, 2012 - the day after he arrived in the US with us.  Hooray!   The document was created on November 28, 2012 and we got it on December 6, 2012.

His document has our last name (as his last name) on it too - woo hoo!  Now we just need to apply to change his soc sec card.  So exciting!  :)

"turtle fort"

This is the magic that happens when a neighbor gives us a box!! :) 

(now it has cool windows and is decorated, but this was day 1)